Electrical multiple typewriter



Feb. 4, 1936. J. TRACHTENBERG ELECTRICAL MULTIPLE TYPEWRITER Filed Nov.5, 1931 7 t sh t l 7 MN m e w w 2 w e e h s 7 A m E w 1 T u w w m N A Md R L m T m w w J m w \w W W O Q a. /1 |||l||| M w Q E i lillill- RN mmm n K- .I a w x (I L g m KM a Q a R N A g 4 w? A rm \M\ M \Q Feb. 4,1936. J. TRACHTENBERG ELECTRICAL MULTIPLE TYPEWRITER Filed Nov. 5, 19317 Sheets-Sheet 3 I/III'IIII Feb. 4, 1936. J. TRACHTENBERG ELECTRICALMULTIPLE TYPEWRITER Filed NOV. 5, 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 4, 1936.

J. TRACHTENBERG ELECTRICAL MULTIPLE TYPEWRITER Filed Nov. 5; 1931 7Sheets-Sheet 5 ll'l'll Feb. 4, 1936. J. TRACHTENBERG 2,029,957

ELECTRICAL MULTIPLE TYPEWRITER Fild Nov. 5, 1951 "r Sheets-Sheet 6 gillllllll ll Illllllllllll ml Illlllllllll lull III N Null!" IImminlilliiil .722 061? far:

WMMZMJ. W1; 5. M

Feb. 4, 1936. .1. TRACHTENBERG ELECTRICAL MULTIPLE TYPEWRITER Filed NOV.5, 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 @Rwk Juvenior:

a 'kr 4 {M 0 ooooowh \w\ 00000000 0000000: oo cooooo Patented Feb. 4,1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Jakow Trachtenberg,Berlin-Charlottenburg, Germany Application November 5, 1931, Serial No.573,235 In Germany January 26, 1929 2 Claims. (Cl. 197-12) The inventionrelates to an electrical multiple typewriter for making a plurality oforiginal typewritten documents simultaneously.

Multiple typewriting machines are already known in which a plurality oforiginal typewritten documents are made on a corresponding number oftypewriters and wherein all the typewriters are electrically-controlledand are actuated from one keyboard. In this case, however, each separatetypewriter is constructed in the manner of a complete typewriter, andfurthermore provided with printing mechanism, selector mechanism forcontrolling the printing mechanism, and an electrical arrangement forremote control, so that the apparatus is extremely complicated andexpensive.

As compared with this the new electrical multiple typewriter ischaracterized by the fact that, whilst employing the continuouslyrotating type-wheel with a synchronously rotating contact arm known intype-printing telegraphs, it is constructed in such a way that a. mainmachine, is provided with a continually rotating type-wheel and acontact arm synchronously rotating with it. On the operation of a key ofa keyboard consisting of a field of contacts, the contact arm closes acircuit in a certain position of the type-wheel by which the type-wheelis caused to strike a writing surface. The main machine is connected insuch a way with a plurality of typing machines or devices which haveessentially each only one type-wheel running synchronously with the maintype-wheel, and a corresponding writing surface, that in them a contactof the type-wheel and writing surface is produced simultaneously withthat of the main machine.

There is thus provided in the main machine only a contact which rotatessynchronously with the type-wheels of all the typing machines, into thepath of which contact, contact stops are brought in known manner by theactuation of a keyboard, which cause the striking of the writingsurfaces against the typewheels and the succeeding closing of thecircuits effecting the return movement of the writing elements at thetimes in which the place of the separate typewheels corresponding to thekeys actuated stand opposite the various writing surfaces. The speed ofrotation of the contact or of the type-wheels adopted is so high, thatin the period of time necessary for seeking the next character, thecontact has already effected the circuit closure for striking thewriting surface against the typewheel or the type-wheel against thewriting surface. A speed of about 400 revolutions per minute would fullysuflice for these requirements. For obtaining a high speed of typing,the arrangement according to the invention is such, furthermore, thatthe contact arm itself re- 5 turns into the position of repose, thecontact stops are brought into its path by means of the keyboard afterthe circuit closure which effects the type-printing. An essentialadvantage of the new electrical multiple typewriter consists in that theseparate writing machines controlled from the main machine, which can beprovided in any suitable number, are very simple in their constructionand therefore comparatively cheap. At the same time, the typing speedattainable is very high, and is in no way inferior to that attainable onordinary typewriters. For example, by means of twenty machinescontrolled from one main machine 600 original letters of the samecontents can be produced in an hour, if one assumes 2 minutes as thetime for typing one letter. Of course, the new machine can also be usedas an ordinary typewriter in case of need, and if desired with only oneadditional typewriter on which the duplicate is made for the files, sothat the making of press-copies or carbon copies is dispensed with.

In the accompanying drawings, showing in a somewhat diagrammatic manneran example of construction of the invention- Figure 1 is a plan view ofthe typing machine of the new multiple typewriter.

Figure 2 a longitudinal section through the typing machine and shows twocontinuously and synchronously rotating type-wheels and the contact armpartly broken away.

Figure 3 an elevation,

Figure 4 a cross section on the line E-E of Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a section through the carriage lock on the line A--A of Fig.4.

Figure 6 a side elevation of the paper-feeding means.

Figure '1 a plan view of the field of contact stops.

Figure 8 is a sector of the contact field shown in Fig. 'I drawn to alarger scale.

Figure 9 a section on the line BB of Fig. 8.

Figure 10 a plan view of the keyboard with indicating devices.

Figure 11 is a longitudinal section on the line CC of Fig. 10.

Figure 12 a section on the line D-D of Fig.

Figure 13 a front elevation of the keyboard with indicating devices.

Figure 14 a cross section of a key.

Figure 15 is a wiring diagram of the machine.

The machine consists in the example of construction of three separateparts, the actual typing machine or mechanism, the contact box, and thekeyboard. The contact box and keyboard or the contact box and writingmachine may be combined to correspond to particular requirements.

The typing machine I of the new electrical multiple typewriting machinecomprises a stationary carriage bed 2 and a movable carriage 3, which isdisplace-ably mounted. on its two long sides by means of rollers 4 onthe cross-rods 5 fixed to the stationary carriage bed 2. The forwardmovement of the carriage during the writing is effected by the spring 6,which is attached by a band 1 to the eye 8 on the carriage, while thereturn movement is efiected by the drawing of the iron core 9 secured tothe carriage into the coil in. The ends of the two movements are checkedby the rubber buffers |4|.

The limitation of the forward movement in typing is effected in knownmanner by an escapement mechanism, which consists of a toothed wheel IIwhich is coupled to a ratchet wheel l2 on the same shaft l3. Thisratchet wheel |2, in its turn, is connected by means of tongues andslots l5 provided on its hub M with the correspondingly formed hub ofthe pinion IS in such a manner that the ratchet wheel |2 withoutbecoming disengaged from the pinion |6, can be displaced on the shaftl3. The hub parts l8 of the wheels l2 and II formed as a clutch are heldin engagement by a spring H. The pinion l6 engages in the toothed rackIQ of the carriage. The points 26 and 2| of a fork 22, mounted so as torock, engage in the toothed wheel II. The point 2| is staggered by halfthe width of a tooth with respect to the point 20. A spring 23 ensuresthe point 2| permanently engaging with the toothed wheel H on a stoppageof the machine. When typing, a current flows, on the contact of thetyping surface with the type-wheel 24, through the winding of theelectro-magnet 25, which attracts the armature 26 on the fork 22, and socauses the fork to rock. By this means the point comes out of engagementwith the toothed wheel H and the point 2| into engagement, whereby thetoothed wheel in consequence of the displacement of the points 20 and 2|rotates through half the width of a tooth. On the interruption of thecurrent flowing through the coil 25, the spring 23 draws the fork 22back into its original position, so that the point 20 again comes intoengagement and the toothed wheel further rotates by the width of anotherhalf tooth. The width of two half teeth corresponds to the width of onetooth, so that the carriage moves forward the width of a letter orcharacter at each operation of the electro-magnet 25.

In order; to move the carriage backwards by operation/of a key I I3 tothe extent of the width of one or several characters, a rocking lever 34is arranged on the hub I8 of the ratchet wheel I2, on the free end ofwhich lever a lever 21 with a hook is pivoted. 0n the latter lever thearmature 28 is pivoted. In the position of repose, the hook of the lever21 does not engage in the ratchet wheel |2. When however the circuit ofthe electro-magnet 29 is closed, the latter attracts the armature 28against the action of a spring 30, so that the lever 21 rocks about thepoint 3| to such an extent until its pin 33, which is guided in the bore32 of the rocking lever 34, and is of less diameter than the bore,strikes the edge'of the bore and rocks the rocking lever 34 with it. Thehook of the lever 21 is thus brought into engagement with the ratchetwheel |2, so that this latter is carried along with it. The clutchmembers |8 of the wheels H and I2 come out of engagement during thisbackward rotation against the action of spring |1 owing to their teethbeing bevelled at one side, so that the toothed wheel I cannot hinderthe reverse movement of the carriage.

The colour band strip 31 consists of a strip the length of the width ofa sheet of paper, and is mounted with its ends, which are guided insleeves 36, on a fork-like frame 35 arranged at about the centre of thecarriage. Instead of coloured band strips, colour-ribbon rolls wound onspools can of course also be used. The frame 35 is inserted in an easilydisplaceable manner in the slots 38 of the carriage frame. At about themiddle of the frame an arm 39 is arranged to which is connected the endof the lever 40 formed as a fork. This lever 40 is revolubly mounted onthe fixed axis 4| and has an arm 42 formed of an armature. Two springs43 retain the lever 40 in its central position. In this position themiddle colour of the three-colour coloured ribbon shown in the drawingslies below the type-wheel. According to the desired change of colour,the lever 40 is rocked to left or right by means of either theelectro-magnet 44 or 45 so that a displacement of the colour ribbonoccurs. If more than three colours are used, a suitable adjustmentdevice which renders possible a further displacement will be provided. I

The paper strip 46 is guided through below the colour ribbon strips 31.This paper strip is wound on the roller 41 and is conveyed by therollers 49 and 50 to the roller 48. The rollers 49 and 50 are providedin pairs with a ratchet adjustment device formed to correspond to thedevice for backspacing. On the one roller shaft a lever 5| is mounted soas to rock, on the free end of which a lever 52 provided with a hook isfulcrumed. A pin 53 of this lever engages in a bore 54 of the lever 5|which exceeds the diameter of the pin. In the position of repose thelever 5| does not engage in the ratchet wheel. The actuation of thelever 52 is effected by the rod 56 pivoted to it and forming thearmature for the electro-magnet 51, which rod when attracted by theelectro magnet 51 rocks the lever 52 to such an extent about its pivotpoint until the pin 53 strikes against the edge of the aperture 54 andso causes the lever 5| to rock about its pivot. Simultaneously the hookof the lever 52 has come into engagement with the ratchet wheel 55, sothat on the further rocking of the lever 52 a rotation of the rollerstakes place. The spring 58 effects the return into its original positionof the hook 52 after the cutting out of the electro-magnet 51.

Such an arrangement is provided for each pair of rollers. In the pair ofrollers 50 the device is so arranged that by the operation of theelectro-magnet a movement is produced opposite to the direction ofrotation of the other roller, which effects the feeding of the paper.Both groups of rollers are positively connected together by bevel wheels59 mounted on a shaft an. In the middle of this shaft 60 a further bevelwheel 6| is arranged which stands in mesh with the bevel wheel 62 of aflexible shaft 63 and transmits the movement of the roller through thebevel wheels 64 and 66 and the shaft 65 to the rollers 41 and 48. Inthis manner the winding up and unwinding of the paper is effected in thesame proportion as the movement of the paper by the conveying rollers 49and 58. The paper can therefore be introduced into the machine in such away that it forms a loop 61 at the feed and delivery points, which makesit possible to move the carriage to and fro without injuring the paperstrip whilst employing fixed winding and unwinding rollers.

The rollers 41 and 48 carrying the paper can be constructed in such away that pins I29 are mounted in two bearings provided on the machineframe, the ends of which pins carry discs I38 provided with twoprojections I32. These projections I32 engage in corresponding holes ofdiscs I33 on the core of the roller and are retained in engagement bysprings I3I. By displacement of the discs I38 against the action of thesprings I3I towards the bearing the projections I32 come out ofengagement so that the roller carrying the paper can be removed.

The striking of the writing surface against the type-wheel 24 iseffected by the tappet 68,- one end of which is connected with anarmature 69.

' This armature 69 can be attracted by the electro-magnets I8. A spring12 arranged in a fixed sleeve II 'is opposed to the force of attractionof the electro-magnets I8 and brings the tappet 68 back again to itsposition of repose after the stroke has taken place.

The shaft I28 of the type-wheel 24 according to Fig. 2 is positivelyconnected at one side with the shaft I4 of the adjustment'box I6 and thedriving electro-motor I42 through the intermediary of the bevel wheelsI43, I44, I45 whilst the other side is provided with a suitable clutchI46 for connection with the shaft I28 of the next adjacent type-wheel24' comprising a typing surface (not shown), the parts I28, 24, 24', I3,I4 rotating continuously and synchronously.

The contact lever I3 serves for closing the circuit operating the tappet68, which contact lever in the example of construction is arranged in aseparate casing and rotates synchronously with the type-wheel inconsequence of its positive connection therewith. The one end of thecontact lever is formed as a sleeve I34 which is mounted by means of theinsulating layer I35 in an insulated manner on the shaft I4. The shaftI4 is mounted, for example, in the foot-piece I5 arranged through theintermediary of the plate I4I of insulating material on the base plateI6 of the casing, and is supported by means of the ball-bearing 11through the intermediary of the bush I8 keyed on the shaft. The free endof the contact arm is supported by means of the ball I9 provided in thecage 88, which ball runs in a circular rail 8I fastened to the casing.

The contact stops 82 are arranged in three circles in staggeredrelationship, so that on a radius there is only one contact stop. Theyare formed by a bell-crank lever 82 which is mounted so asto rock on acurrent rail 83 brought into the circuit. Springs 84 are connected tothe bellcrank levers 82 and cause the levers 82 to be secured in theirposition after their oscillation through the dead-point until they arenext caused to rock. A nose 85 prevents the lever 82 rocking too far.The closures of the circuits are effected by wedge-shaped projections 86and in the position of repose of the contact stops 82 can move past thelatter unimpededly. If however a current is sent through the winding ofthe electro-magnet I36, the end 81 of the contact stop formed as anarmature is attracted, and the end 8| serving as contact rocked into thepath of the projection 86, and r tained by the spring 84 in thisposition even on the interruption of the current, until the projection86 strikes against the end 88 during the rotation of the contact leverI3 and presses the lever downwards so that it again assumes its originalposition. In this position it is also retained by the spring 84. On thecontact of the projection 86 against the lever end 88 current flows fromthe battery I3I connected to the current rail 83 through the end 88 ofthe lever 82, the projection 86, contact lever I3, the sliding contact89 fastened to the contact lever and sliding on the shaft 14, the shaftI4, and the foot-piece I5 to the typing machine.

The keys 98 of the keyboard 9I are preferably of funnel shape, andprovided at their bottom with the conducting attachment 92 which effectsthe closure of the circuit.

On the side and at the top of the keyboard indicator devices 93 and 94respectively are arranged. The indicating device 94 serves to makevisible the length of the typed line whilst the lateral indicatingdevice serves for counting the lines. The indicating device 94 consistsof a carriage 95, which carries a pointer 96. The movement mechanism ofthis indicating device corresponds exactly with that of the carriage 2of the typewriter. It consists of the spring 91, the lock 98, and thecoil 99 which draws in the carriage part I48 formed as an iron core. Thesaid parts are connected in the same circuit with the correspondingparts serving for the movement of the carriage, so that the movementstake place exactly simultaneously.

In the indicating device 93 a ratchet adjustment device I88, identicalwith that of the ratchet device for the movement of the paper rollers,is arranged on a little carriage, which with its rollers I8I can travelon the angle-iron I82 provided in the casing of the indicating device. Atoothed wheel I83 mounted on the shaft driven by the ratchet adjustmentmechanism engages in a fixed toothed rack-bar I84 so that the adjustmentmovement causes a forward movement of the little carriage which carriesthe pointer I85. The scale of this indicating device corresponds to thenumber of lines which can be written on a sheet of paper of normal size.The moving back of the indicating device 93 is effected manually in theexample of construction described by means of a finger-piece I38. Itcould however also be effected electro-magnetically.

The mode of working of the new apparatus is as follows:-

By means of the two typing pins I86 and I81 the key of the correspondingcharacter is touched on the keyboard of the machine. By this means thecircuit indicated by a in Fig. 15 is closed which energizes theelectro-magnets I36. The current can be taken from a battery or themains. These electro-magnets in their turn attract the armature 81 ofthe contact stops, which oscillate and bring their contact 88 into thepath of the projections 86 of the rotating contact I3. On theinterruption of the circuit a, the spring 84 retains the contact stop solong in the position mentioned until the projection 86 strikes againstthe contact 88 and now closes the circuit, and current flows from thebattery I3I through the conductor I88, shaft I4, contact lever I3, itsprojections 86, the contact stop 82 serves as a return key. By it thecircuit H4 is closed in which is situated the coil 29 and the coil 69corresponding to it of the indicating device 93.

The circuit I I6 closed by the key I I effects the optional forwardmovement of the carriage 2 as well as that of the carriage of theindicating device 94 when insetting the line and the like. In thiscircuit II8 there is simply the magnet coil 25 as well as thecorresponding coil II! of the indicating device 94. The return movementof the carriage is effected by the circuit H8, which is closed by meansof key I I9, whereby a current flows through the coil I0 and the coil 99and the latter draw in the iron cores 9 and I40 of the typewritercarriage as well as the indicating device 94. For the forward andbackward movement of the paper, circuits I22 and I23 are employed closedby the keys I20 and I2I, of which circuits the circuit I22, which servesfor the forward movement of the paper, serves at the same time also forthe operation of the indicating device 93 and through the coil I39 ofwhich as well as one of the coils 51 current flows. The return of theindicating device 93 is effected by hand, it could however also beperformed electromagnetically in a similar manner to the indicatingdevice 94.

For changing the colour ribbon keys I24 and I25 are provided. These keysbelong to the circuits I26 and I21 in which are situated the coils 44and 45, by which when supplied with current the colour ribbon isdisplaced correspondingly to left or to right.

It is preferable to combine the switch box with the rotating contact 13with the typing machine so that no rotating parts have to be carriedthrough the rooms of the oillce but simply a cable serving for thesupply of current leads from the keyboard to the typing machine. Ofcourse, a switch box for several typing machines coupled together can beprovided.

I claim:

1. An electrical multiple typewriter comprising a continuously rotatabletypewheel, a platen, electro-magnetic typing means for bringing theplaten into contact with a definite type on the typewheel, a contact armrotating continuously and synchronously with the typewheel, a pluralityof contact stops, a keyboard comprising a plurality of keys,electro-magnetic means operated by the keys and adapted to bring thecontact stops into the path of the rotating contact arm, a circuitclosed by the contact of the stops and the contact arm and operating theelectromag netic typing means, and means whereby the 1'0- tating contactarm returns the contact stops to their position of repose after closingsaid circult,

2. An electrical multiple typewriter comprising a continuously rotatabletypewheel, a platen, a laterally movable carriage supporting the platen,electro-magnetic typing means for bringing the platen into contact witha definite type on the typewheel, paper feeding means to feed paperbetween the typewheel and the platen, a keyboard comprising a pluralityof keys, means operated by certain of said keys to operate saidelectro-magnetic typing means, means operated by other of said keys toeffect displacement of said carriage, means operated by a further key toeffect return of said carriage, means operated by still other of saidkeys to operate said paper feeding means, and indicating devices mountedon the keyboard operated by said paper feeding means and said carriagedisplacing means, and indicating the position of the typed sheet withrespect to the typewheel.

JAKOW 'IRACHTENBERG.

